Rave Master Fan Fiction ❯ Upon a Shooting Star ❯ Chapter 13: Time of Understanding ( Chapter 13 )

Author’s Corner:
SSD: Back again for the continuation of Lucy’s punishment! In other news…I got a new tablet! Now I can start working on the cover art I have in mind for this. *grin*Lucy: …it better not be anything embarrassing…SSD: Actually, it’s going to be the Rabbit and the Lion.Leo: Excellent! I shall adore my warrior prin-Laxus: *in casino outfit* *growl* Watch your hands, cat. SSD meant me.Leo: *pout*SSD: Yeah…mainly because the outfit is something I designed and…yeah, sorry, Leo. Maybe I’ll do a future story of you and Lucy. Maybe. Unless you want to be my kitty?Leo: …aren’t you with that Cullen guy?SSD: …curse my fidelity.Lucy: SSD, we’re out of time. The disclaimer?SSD: Take it away, Leo!Leo: Silverserpentdragon does not own Fairy Tail and we ask that you not steal her characters.SSD: Onward!
USSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUS S

Chapter 13: Time of Understanding

Lucy cringed as another male guest copped a feel, deluded by the glamour. [This is so wrong…why can’t they put up a notice for underage workers?] She glanced at the other workers in the area and sweatdropped, seeing several with similar bangles to her. [Then again…they’d probably get shut down on suspicion of child prostitution or something.] Her back stiffened and froze as she felt another ghosting touch. She plastered on a smile as she greeted the next guest and guided them to the poker table where Laxus was dealing.Said current-lion growled a bit at seeing how grabby the man was getting with his guildmate. [Fucking Norm, can’t even tell the difference between a glamour and reality.] He silently admitted that it was a good illusion, though…if he hadn’t known what Lucy really looked like he’d probably be the same as these guys. Laxus’ eye twitched. [Fuck…and I have to wait four years for that…] His nose twitched then, picking up a heavy scent of metal. Stormy eyes narrowed as he dealt out and glared at the door.Lucy looked up, smiling and a greeting on her lips…that died in her throat when she spotted familiar, slitted red eyes. They looked at her with some confusion before recognition lit in them and an equally familiar grin split his face. “Gihi. You really do like bunnies, eh, bunny girl?”Lucy gulped and blinked, staring in disbelief. “G-Gajeel?”The also familiar blue-haired teen next to him glanced up. “You know this girl, Gajeel?”Gajeel smirked. “You could say that. We’ll have to catch up later, bunny girl, we’re on a mission right now.”Lucy greeted the guests behind him before turning her attention back. “Our shift is over in another couple hours. Meet us at the hotel bar and we can discuss notes, since I think you’re on the same mission we’re on.”Gajeel nodded, eyes darting about the room and landing on Laxus. He smirked. “So, you and lightning rod? Never thought he’d go for a lion.”Lucy flushed and waved her paws in front of her. “It’s not like that! Look, we’ll talk later, we’re trying to do a job here.”Gajeel nodded, smirking as he definitely caught a whiff of Laxus’ jealousy even from the door. “Gihi, see ya, bunny girl.” He wrapped an arm around Juvia as they went to a table, Juvia quietly interrogating her partner. Lucy watched them for a bit before getting back to work. [Gajeel knows who I am…and Laxus…but how? He should be with Phantom Lord right now, which…he is..but…that doesn’t explain how he remembers me!]At his table, Laxus grit his teeth, growling more fiercely as he watched Blondie talk with the metal head. [That fucker…what does he think he’s doing chatting up Blondie like that? Cool it, Laxus, we’re on a job…] He glared down at the cards and pushed the winner their prize. He pointedly ignored several of the comments on how he “was so in-character it’s surreal”. [Fucking rich snobs…]Gajeel frowned once he turned away from Lucy. [Bunny girl should be younger, not older, and she seemed surprised that I knew her. Yet…Juvia didn’t recognize her at all. What the fuck is going on?] He settled at the poker table with Laxus once some loser sap got fed up with losing and took his seat. He looked at Laxus and raised an eyebrow as the man glared at him, pupils dangerously narrow. [Oh, now this is interesting…lightning rod’s possessive of bunny girl. This should be fun.] He smirked and looked at his cards, muttering so low only dragon slayer hearing would be able to pick it up. “Bunny girl looks hot.”Laxus growled and glared, growling out, “Stay the fuck away from her, metal head. She’s thirteen.”Gajeel blinked at that. [That explains the odd tingle to her scent.] “Easy, lightning rod, just checking.” He looked at his cards and traded in two. “Bunny girl thinks we’re on the same mission, ran into her once before this. Didn’t think she was S-class though.”Laxus slightly backed down at the admission, dealing back two cards. “She isn’t, she’s with my team. Testing her though.”Gajeel blinked. “Huh, interesting. We’ll meet later at the hotel bar, bunny’s words.”Laxus nodded, making a last call. “Fine. The others are in the Cabaret and Victorian. Pass the message from Thunder God.”Gajeel nodded. “Gihi. It’s been fun, but I’ll take my winnings.” Gajeel laid out the four of a kind in Kings. Laxus twitched a bit and passed the pot to him. “You gonna deal in again?”Gajeel stood up. “I’m good, other places to see for a while.” He resumed his hold on Juvia and went to another table after stowing away his winnings.Juvia looked at him suspiciously. “Gajeel, why are you associating with mages from Fairy Tail?” Gajeel gave her a serious look. “Because, they’ll be nakama.”Juvia narrowed her eyes. “You know Master Jose hates when you talk like that. You’ve even swayed Apeliotus and Skiron to your way and he’s seriously considering taking away your S-Class status.”Gajeel snorted. “Let him. I got what I needed to know, I ain’t gonna stick around and make the same mistakes this time.”Juvia’s face morphed to a slight scowl. “And again you ramble as if this is nothing.”Gajeel growled. “Just drop it, if you don’t remember shit, then apparently Gray meant nothing to you after all.”Juvia’s walk faltered, her heart thudding at the name and she blushed. “Gray-sama…that name…”Gajeel blinked and stared at her deadpan. “…Lyon.”Juvia flushed more and cupped her cheeks, breathing faster. “This…sensation…I can feel my body heating up.”Gajeel twitched a bit, getting an uncomfortable whiff of her arousal. “Yeah…let’s head to the Cabaret…”As Juvia was dragged away, her mind swan in dizzying images of two men with stripping habits…she passed out halfway to their destination and Gajeel groaned. “Fuck my life.”Lucy sighed, taking off the stupid costume in her dressing room and changing back into her clothes, but still having to wear the bangle until the job was finished. She stepped into the main room and nodded to Bickslow and Evergreen as they left for their shift. She blinked and squeaked in surprise as Laxus wrapped an arm around her waist and started walking out with her. The blonde blushed furiously.“Laxus! I can walk by myself!”Laxus glared at her and jerked his head at several male patrons who were…looking a tad disappointed once they realized the “bubbly bunny” had a “boyfriend”. Lucy blushed and murmured out a thanks. Laxus smirked. “No problem, Blondie. You’ll just have to make it up to me in a few years.”Lucy glared at him. “…I take back every nice thing I ever thought of you just now.”Laxus looked at her seriously. “I’d otherwise ask now, but I don’t do kids. So quit asking, Blondie.”Lucy flushed. “What the heck is your problem? I’m not asking you for anything!”Freed coughed and blushed. “Laxus-sama, shall I go meet with our potential allies while you…umm…handle this?”Laxus waved him off and pulled Lucy into a supply closet. Freed left, looking even more flustered aand weeping internally. [Oh, Laxus-sama…please don’t fall to such depravity!]Lucy turned cherry red. “Laxus! What do you-mmph!” She blinked as his hand covered her mouth. She then blinked more as the closet’s light turned on. The blonde’s heart skipped a beat at the look Laxus was giving her.“That. That is what I am talking about, Blondie. It isn’t known to the guild, but I’m a Dragon Slayer, not like Natsu though. I still have the heightened senses of one, and that blasted weakness, and I can fucking smell your attraction to me.”Lucy gulped as his eyes narrowed at her. [Have I…have I really been…?] She thought back to those several moments they met…and her constant fluttering when she denied any such feelings when Cana or Azule poked at her. [Oh God…I…am I? But…I always thought it would be Natsu…] Her eyes widened. […he hasn’t needed to protect me…he…he thinks he DOESN’T need to protect me…not like before…how could I have been so blind?] She blinked, her vision turning cloudy.Laxus twitched at the scent of her tears, flinching. “Fuck, Blondie, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He removed his hand from her mouth and wiped away a tear. “…tell anyone about this and I’ll make your life hell.” He sighed and pulled her into a hug, grimacing at the odd way the glamour’s magic pushed against him to “delude” him. His fingers wove into her hair as he held her against him while she cried in heartbreak. [What did I say? Maybe I was reading her wrong?] He pulled back a bit to look at her and felt the growl rise up as he saw her tear-stained face. Before he could stop himself, he swiftly dove in and pressed his lips to hers, growling.Lucy blinked, eyes widening as she felt the pressure on her lips. [He’s…Laxus is…he’s kissing me?]It was chaste, meant to offer comfort and support…but damn if Laxus didn’t think it was better than when he and Mira had a “private party” on her birthday last year. [Then again, look where that got us now….and I really am fucked…] He pulled away and looked down at dazed brown eyes. “Blondie?”Lucy shook her head. “I’m…fine, but…” she blushed. “Why did you kiss me?” [My first kiss…even with the other timeline…]Laxus rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, not used to all these…feelings being involved. “…it seemed the right thing to do. Just…this doesn’t get out, alright?”Lucy smiled shyly. “Yeah…can’t let the Great and Powerful Laxus be known to have kissed a thirteen year old girl because she was crying.”Laxus crossed his arms. “Yeah…seriously, Blondie, come back to me in a few years.” He smirked lecherously. “Then we’ll have a real fun time.”Lucy flushed and punched his arm. “Pervert.”Laxus snorted. “Let’s head to the bar before Freed starts getting the wrong idea.”Lucy nodded and groaned. “And Gajeel…I really don’t need him antagonizing me too…”Laxus opened the door and turned off the light as they stepped into the hall. “How do you know the metal head?”Lucy shifted a bit. “It’s…a complicated story. He’s a Dragon Slayer though, the Iron Dragon Slayer.”Laxus nodded. “That explains the feeling I got from him, and how he knew to talk so low.”Lucy blinked as they walked. “So…Dragon Slayers can apparently sense each other?”Laxus shrugged. “Something like that. Then again, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s here. S-class missions get sent to all the guilds so there tends to be some competition in completing them. At least if we work together, we all get some of the reward.”Lucy nodded in understanding. “I see. Still, Gajeel isn’t that bad despite his rough exterior.” She smiled at him. “A lot like you, actually.”Lucy laughed as Laxus faltered and twitched. “Blondie…what did I say about asking for it.”Lucy flushed. “I wasn’t asking for anything, perv! It’s called friendly teasing. Like you calling me Blondie, spark plug.”Laxus blinked. “Tch. Let’s hurry it up, Blondie, we’re late s it is.” He picked her up by the waist and started running, smirking as the girl gave a surprised shriek.Gajeel glanced up from his drink, hearing Lucy’s laugh. He raised an eyebrow as a smirking Laxus and flushed Lucy entered the area. He sent the Lightning Dragon Slayer a suspicious glare and received a shake of the head. Gajeel sighed in relief. [Good, at least lightning rod’s not that stupid, even if he is intent on claiming bunny girl.]Juvia locked her eyes on Lucy. “It appears Juvia has no need to worry about Love Rival anymore.”Lucy sweatdropped and gave Gajeel a questioning look. The teen gave a shrug and mouthed “Gray”. Then it clicked to the blonde and she facepalmed. “Of course…we can catch up later, Gajeel, Juvia, let’s just get down to business.”Gajeel nodded. “Right. Here to capture two unknown robbers, right?”Freed nodded. “That is correct, we believe the next attack to occur tomorrow night. Our culprits are more than likely here now.”Juvia closed her eyes. “We are working the Guest approach while your group takes the Worker approach, a two pronged assault.”Freed eyed Juvia speculatively. “Indeed, provided your team is willing to work with us.”Gajeel grunted. “I don’t mind working with bunny girl.”Juvia nodded. “Indeed, working with former-Love Rival will be bring back many memories.” She looked over at Lucy and nodded with a slight smile.Lucy shifted in her seat a bit. “Thanks, Juvia, I appreciate that…” [Even if it looks like you have a different Love Rival now…oh no, I need to warn Kalia…] Lucy sweatdropped.Freed nodded. “Very well, we shall plan our assault accordingly and relay to our other teammates once they are relieved of duty.”The group fell into various states of relaxed stances, “chatting” amicably as they worked out a plan in code, Freed taking subtle notes to give to Bickslow and Evergreen later. After roughly an hour of drinking and talking the group dispersed, Lucy walking with Gajeel and Juvia.The blonde smiled awkwardly. “I guess we have a lot to catch up on?”Gajeel nodded and grabbed her shoulder. “Come on, bunny girl. Don’t worry, lightning rod, we’ll take care of her.” He sent a look at the growling Dragon Slayer, clearly saying “we’ll talk later”. The two Phantom Lord members took Lucy up to their room and shut the door. “Alright, bunny girl, start talking.”Juvia nodded. “Juvia would also like to know why Juvia is currently younger while former-Love Rival appears to be the same.”Lucy sighed. “This is probably going to sound weird but…you know the connection I have with my spirits, right?” She shuffled awkwardly.Juvia and Gajeel nodded. “Yes, but Juvia does not understand why that is relevant.”Lucy sighed. “When we were fighting Tartarus…we didn’t have much time to recuperate before Zeref made his appearance and…” she grimaced and took out her keys, singling out Aquarius. “When you all were swallowed by Alegria…I was the only one left and had to fight…in the end…it wasn’t enough. Loke and Virgo weren’t enough, so I summoned Aquarius as well.” Gajeel and Juvia both sucked in sharp breaths. “Fuck, bunny, three gates? You can only hold open two at a time with the Second Origin.”Lucy gave a sad smile. “I was weaker back then, yeah…but I got stronger. Anyway, I summoned Aquarius, but we were still hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. Loke and Virgo were taken out with one attack by Jackal,” She spit the name out, Juvia and Gajeel both surprised by the vehemence. “Aquarius got me out of the way when he tried attacking me again and held him off. She…she’s the one that told me how to help you all…by summoning the Celestial Spirit King.”Gajeel blinked. “Wait, so they had the key?” Lucy shook her head, trembling as she remembered the one of the most agonizing moments of her life.“No…there is no key to summon him…”Juvia frowned. “Then how…” She trailed off as tears slipped down Lucy’s cheek. “A sacrifice…”Lucy nodded as Gajeel stiffened. “…Aquarius told me…to use her key to summon him. Doing so…would break the key…”Gajeel swore. “Fuck, bunny, no wonder you were so out of it after everything.”Lucy nodded, wiping away her tears. “Once Natsu killed Zeref…I went back to my apartment…I just…I felt so overwhelmed by everything that I couldn’t help but hope, but wish…I saw a shooting star that day, and wished for a second chance. I didn’t realize anyone else would have remembered though.”Gajeel shrugged. “I don’t remember everything, or I didn’t until after I saw you. I remembered the shrimp, and flame breath, though.”Juvia nodded. “Juvia did not remember until Gajeel mentioned Gray-sama and Lyon-sama, our further meeting has brought back more memories, but Juvia still does not remember much.”Lucy blinked and lightly punched her palm. “Oh! That explains how Gildarts knows! Perhaps because my wish was to strengthen the bonds I missed out on…those who had strong bonds will still remember them.”Gajeel raised an eyebrow. “Lightning rod didn’t seem to remember.”Lucy shrugged. “He can be stubborn, but I’m sure his heart remembers. He’s still close with the Thunder God Tribe.”Gajeel snorted. “Of course he is, they’re his nakama.”Lucy tilted her head. “Evergreen seems to hate me though…”Juvia nodded. “She may be jealous. Former-Lo…Lucy, is a very bright person.”Gajeel grunted and looked at Lucy’s keys again. “Wait…you didn’t have this many when we abducted you. And you have the stupid cat’s.”Lucy blushed. “About th-“A shimmer of gold appeared and Leo wrapped his arms around Lucy. “I resent being called a “stupid cat”, thank you very much. My warrior princess, forgive your shining knight for not helping you earlier with the Neanderthal.” Leo kissed her hand.Lucy flushed as Gajeel gave a “Gihi” and Juvia blinked curiously. “Lo-Leo…I didn’t need help with that…we just came to an…” she flushed brighter, “A-an understanding…”Leo sighed dejectedly and pouted. “I suppose you don’t need me with another lion around…”Lucy groaned. “Leo, of course I’ll need you. I’ll need you to always be my friend and have my back, alright?”Gajeel grimaced and looked at Juvia. “…don’t tell me that’s how I’ve been sounding at the guild.”Juvia smiled slyly. “Indeed, it has driven the rest of the Element Four crazy while rounding up your fellow Slayers.”Gajeel twitched. “Just because I paid attention to the brat this time around…”“Skiron and Apeliotus.”“Weren’t there the first time.”Lucy paused in her consoling of Leo and looked at them. “You have new members too?”Leo looked between the group suspiciously. “Princess, what is going on?”Lucy shifted in her seat. “I’ll tell you later, I can only handle so much at a time and…oh no, I never got around to contracting the others. Please tell them I’m sorry.” She gave him an apologetic look. Leo sighed and stood up. “Very well, princess, they understand that you are busy, but I’ll pass along your apologies. And, princess…Time Magic always comes at a cost, don’t use it frivolously.” He gave her a warning look before vanishing back to spirit world.Lucy sighed. “Anyway, you have new members?”The two nodded. “Yeah, three of them. Two are Dragon Slayers, the Crystal and the Plant, another is just a regular Wood Make mage, specializes in different bows.”Lucy blinked. “More slayers…do you know what generation they are?”Gajeel shrugged. “They feel like first, talked about missing their parents. They’ll end up mated once Skiron reaches her majority, I’m sure.”Lucy blinked and blushed. “M-Ma…”Juvia nodded. “Dragon Slayers take mates, eventually.”Gajeel shrugged. “There’s a courting process involved, far as I know, second gen’s don’t have the urge, but we never could tell in the other time, Laxus and Cobra didn’t give off that vibe.”Lucy nodded, sighing slightly in relief. “Okay, and there’s a few new people in Fairy Tail as well, a whole family and another Lightning Mage my age.”Juvia leaned on the wall. “Three mages each, it seems. Juvia would like to know if there is a pattern but we are not overly familiar with the members of the other guilds.”Lucy blinked. “Wendy…Cait Shelter doesn’t really exist, so…maybe if we get to Wendy, we can stop Nirvana before the Oracion Seis go for it.”Gajeel shrugged. “Not much of a point, the kid’ll be fine. We all know how they end up anyway.”Lucy nodded and clenched her fists. “There’s the possibility Angel will be resorting to Angel Magic now that I have most of the keys she did…otherwise she will be severely weakened.”“Juvia was not aware this was becoming a preemptive meeting.”Lucy blinked. “Sorry…just…I want to try and prevent as much heartache as we can…”Gajeel nodded. “We can understand that. Give us another year to set things in order, we’ll head home when we’re ready.” Lucy smiled at the reference to Fairy Tail as home. “We won’t have to fend off Phantom Lord taking you back to daddy this time, do we?”Lucy laughed. “No, my dad and I are on good terms this time around. Actually, let me tell you what happened a couple days ago…”
USSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSS
Author’s Postscript:
SSD: Whew, that took longer than I thought to get out. I know I promised more chapters but…I really want to get to work on the cover art.Lucy: I really didn’t think Gajeel would remember our timeline, too.SSD: Yeah, I rolled on it, like I did with Gildarts, and he got high enough…of course Juvia only remembered because of Gray and Lyon…and her rivalry with you.Lucy: Oh! Remind me to get some tips on Water Magic from her! Aquarius is great and all, but it’d be nice to have a second source.SSD: Right, I need to bring her back. *light bulb* And I just realized how to do it. Hope you’ll enjoy next chapter, Lucy.Lucy: SSD? …why do I not like the look you’re giving me…you already had Laxus abduct me into a closet.SSD: Nothing too bad…and can you really complain? You got your First Kiss out of the way.Lucy: *blush* …I’d rather it not have been in a closet…SSD: Anyway, see you all later as I get to work. Bye!